Uploaded August 2025 | Updated September 2026, 9 hours ago
Emily Harding of CSIS reveals just how vulnerable the United States is in the face of growing cyber threats from Russia, China, and Iran. Drawing from years of research, wargames, and classified briefings, Harding delivers an unflinching look at modern cyber warfare—how it's already reshaping global conflict, and why the U.S. is dangerously behind. With shocking examples from the Ukraine war to infrastructure hacks on American soil, this talk is a wake-up call for policymakers and civilians alike.
Harding breaks down each adversary's cyber warfare approach—Russia's hybrid warfare and reflexive control, China’s operational preparations for a Taiwan invasion, and Iran’s bold sabotage of civilian infrastructure. She also walks the audience through high-stakes cyber war game scenarios, asking if attacks on critical infrastructure like water systems and power grids count as acts of war—and what the U.S. response should be.
The lecture ends with powerful recommendations: establishing a U.S. cyber force, redefining proportionality, and learning from Ukraine’s resilience. With humor, clarity, and urgency, Harding makes one thing clear: the next war won’t start with missiles—it’s already begun with malware.
Emily Harding is Deputy Director and Senior Fellow in the International Security Program at the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS). A former Deputy Staff Director for the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence and a seasoned CIA analyst, she specializes in the intersection of emerging technologies and national security. Her work focuses on cyber warfare, intelligence reform, and how democracies can adapt to digital threats.
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00:00 - Introduction & Opening Story: The Microsoft Call That Changed Everything
03:32 - Meet Emily Harding: Background in Cyber & Intelligence
05:45 - The Future of Warfare: Cyber at the Center
08:18 - Russia’s Cyber Warfare Strategy and the Ukraine Case Study
15:10 - How Ukraine Became Resilient to Russian Cyber Attacks
18:45 - China’s Silent Cyber Infiltration of U.S. Infrastructure
25:33 - Volt Typhoon and the Road to Taiwan
31:00 - Iran’s Hidden Cyber War: Albania, Water Plants & More
36:40 - The U.S. Cyber Dilemma: Offense Strong, Defense Weak
42:10 - War Games: What Happens If We’re Hit?
51:45 - Lessons from Simulated Cyber Crises
56:20 - Solutions: Building a Cyber Force and New Policy Frameworks
1:03:00 - Audience Q&A Highlights
1:12:40 - Final Thoughts: “Let’s Not Lose”
Emily Harding of CSIS reveals just how vulnerable the United States is in the face of growing cyber threats from Russia, China, and Iran. Drawing from years of research, wargames, and classified briefings, Harding delivers an unflinching look at modern cyber warfare—how it's already reshaping global conflict, and why the U.S. is dangerously behind. With shocking examples from the Ukraine war to infrastructure hacks on American soil, this talk is a wake-up call for policymakers and civilians alike.
Harding breaks down each adversary's cyber warfare approach—Russia's hybrid warfare and reflexive control, China’s operational preparations for a Taiwan invasion, and Iran’s bold sabotage of civilian infrastructure. She also walks the audience through high-stakes cyber war game scenarios, asking if attacks on critical infrastructure like water systems and power grids count as acts of war—and what the U.S. response should be.
The lecture ends with powerful recommendations: establishing a U.S. cyber force, redefining proportionality, and learning from Ukraine’s resilience. With humor, clarity, and urgency, Harding makes one thing clear: the next war won’t start with missiles—it’s already begun with malware.
Emily Harding is Deputy Director and Senior Fellow in the International Security Program at the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS). A former Deputy Staff Director for the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence and a seasoned CIA analyst, she specializes in the intersection of emerging technologies and national security. Her work focuses on cyber warfare, intelligence reform, and how democracies can adapt to digital threats.
Please like, subscribe and click the bell icon above to get notifications when we post new videos!
Join our mailing list to get advance info on our upcoming programs and to sign up for livestreams: signup.e2ma.net/signup/1887647/1895526
We rely on our donors to keep our programming going, please donate here: vailsymposium.org/donate
00:00 - Introduction & Opening Story: The Microsoft Call That Changed Everything
03:32 - Meet Emily Harding: Background in Cyber & Intelligence
05:45 - The Future of Warfare: Cyber at the Center
08:18 - Russia’s Cyber Warfare Strategy and the Ukraine Case Study
15:10 - How Ukraine Became Resilient to Russian Cyber Attacks
18:45 - China’s Silent Cyber Infiltration of U.S. Infrastructure
25:33 - Volt Typhoon and the Road to Taiwan
31:00 - Iran’s Hidden Cyber War: Albania, Water Plants & More
36:40 - The U.S. Cyber Dilemma: Offense Strong, Defense Weak
42:10 - War Games: What Happens If We’re Hit?
51:45 - Lessons from Simulated Cyber Crises
56:20 - Solutions: Building a Cyber Force and New Policy Frameworks
1:03:00 - Audience Q&A Highlights
1:12:40 - Final Thoughts: “Let’s Not Lose”
